I’ve never been very good at making New Year’s resolutions. I give them a little thought, but then pretty much forget them in the brilliant light of a newly launched year. So I thought I’d ask my dog, Bailey, to help me.

The top three resolutions he wrote for me all involved treats. Getting tastier treats, treating him whenever he wanted, and distributing said treats to him without whining.

I explained that simply was not going to happen. He gets plenty of treats, they are all nutritious so that his tummy doesn’t get upset, and as his owner, I reserve the right to whine whenever I want.

We agreed to disagree on that topic and we came up with some others that we think everyone should adopt. So get ready to be resolute.

Love your pet, every minute of every day. This one sounds pretty easy. Our pets are exceptionally easy to love, but it’s also easy to take them for granted or allow their quirks and occasional mishaps to color our judgement.

Remember that any creature that loves unconditionally needs to be instantly forgiven for peeing on the floor, tearing up the furniture, chewing up your brand new slippers or, in Bailey’s case, barking too loudly at guests.

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Resolve to be more patient and to remember that as old as our pets might get, we never have enough time with them. Treasure the moments you do have. Spend time with them, play with them, sit quietly with them on your lap or perched on your shoulder. When it comes time to say goodbye, regret that they will no longer be in your life; don’t regret missed opportunities.

Resolve to be a more responsible pet parent. Don’t skip routine visits to the vet. Don’t let your pet wander the neighborhood unattended. Don’t allow them to poop where they may and leave it there.

Being a good pet parent is being responsible for their care, but also being a good neighbor and citizen of the world.

Resolve to help animals. For some, that might mean adopting one or two pets from a shelter or rescue group. For those who can’t have another pet, or who don’t think it’s the right time to have one, consider donating to the rescue groups that do so much for the homeless pets. If you have more time than money, try volunteering. They need help in fostering pets, taking care of them, socializing them and even cleaning up the shelter areas to make it more comfortable for the animals.

Extend a helping hand toward wildlife. Put out some feeders for the birds, be more tolerant of squirrels and other creatures that might visit your yard, and do what you can without getting in the animals’ way. Wildlife is better off when it remains wild.

If you’re the type who understandably doesn’t want wildlife in your yard, then don’t do things that will attract them.

Don’t use poisons to get rid of the creatures, large and small, that annoy you. Putting out rat poison kills in a slow and cruel manner, and it puts other wildlife, pets and humans at risk, too. Don’t use insecticides and systemics to control pests; these too often end up killing beneficial insects.

Joan Morris is the pets & wildlife columnist for the Bay Area News Group. She also writes about gardening and is the founder of Our Garden, a demonstration garden in Walnut Creek. Morris started her career in 1978 as a reporter for a small New Mexico newspaper. She has lived in the Bay Area since 1988.